Location : Sana'a, YEMEN
Deadline : 18-Sep-13
Type of Contract : FTA International
Post Level : P-3
Languages Required : Arabic English
Duration of Initial Contract : One year, renewable
Description
Background
The project Support to Elections during the Transition Period (SETP) aims to support the Government of Yemen (GoY), and the Supreme Commission on Elections and Referenda (SCER), in particular, in reinforcing the electoral cycle by conducting fair, open and inclusive elections within the terms of the agreed Transition Initiative (signed in Riyadh on 23 November, 2011 by the ruling and the opposition parties). The project adopted a two-phase approach: phase one focused on the early Presidential elections which took place on 21 February, 2012; and phase two, which will focus on electoral legal reforms, supporting the update to the voter registry, technical support to the expected referendum on a new/revised Constitution, as well as post-referendum elections, including support to enhance inclusion and participation in electoral processes. Support to the capacity building of the SCER will be reinforced during both phases.
The political agreement in Yemen is expected not only to put an end to the acute political crisis in Yemen, but also to open a new unprecedented possibility for cardinal change and target-oriented reforms aimed at enhancing the principles of democratic governance, the rule of law, political, economic and cultural development. These changes, however, cannot come over night. The transition period began with the announcement of early elections and the formation of a new Government, which will take important steps, such as the adoption of a new constitution and legislation, formation and smooth functioning of a government of national unity, decentralization and enhancing local governance, socio-economic reforms and considerable empowerment of women and youth. The UN will support the political transition of Yemen through the UN Stabilization Framework and focus on key areas of the transition including electoral support (to include an updated voter registry) and as outlined in the Transition Initiative.The drastically increased intensity of the electoral events and their significance and importance in the transition requires that a separate Election Support Unit (ESU) be formed to conduct all the necessary preparatory and coordination work in order to meet the tremendous challenge of the transition period in an appropriate and targeted manner. In the 24-month period outlined under Phase II of the transitional process, the role of the elections, including voter registration, implementation assurances and public awareness and education of electoral legal reforms and the administration of a prospective referendum and post-referendum elections will be crucial to the success of the transitional period in Yemen. Engaging and collaborating with the SCER, political parties, media outlets, academics, and CSOs will take place under the guidance of the Elections Media/Communications Advisor who will be in charge of a SETP Media and Voter Information Team, which will be under the guidance of the Elections Support Unit, charged with designing, creating, implementing and monitoring a targeted voter information and inclusion media plan/strategy for action during the electoral processes envisioned during the transitional period. The team will work in tandem to design, implement, and monitor all of the facets of the media strategy during the transitional period in order to support the SCER's voter awareness and information strategy.The Elections Media/Communications Advisor will design, coordinate, and implement the strategies, and mechanisms necessary to implement a targeted media and voter information campaign, and a voter information training program for the SCER. The Elections Media/Communications Advisor will work in coordination with peer Media Relations/Public Information Specialists/Coordinators/Producers/Editor-in-Chiefs/Teams at peer institutions such as the SCER Public Information Department, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Sport and Youth, Media-focused CSOs, Media Outlets in Print, Broadcast and Internet spheres. The Elections Media/Communications Advisor will support the SCER's efforts in creating an Electoral Media and Training Centre on the premises of the SCER.Internal functions of the Elections Media/Communications Advisor will be selecting, designing, creating and implementing plans/strategies for media and voter engagement and trainings through and in coordination with the SCER, and will be based on the context as well as needs and technical assessments produced during SETP Phase I of the transitional process. The Internal functions of the Elections Media/Communications Advisor will also include working with partner international organizations, and the UNDP Country Office, to support the media campaign-related activities of their programming. External functions of the Elections Media/Communications Advisor will include but not be limited to identifying appropriate partners and modes of delivery for the SETP Phase II voter information/media campaign, creating broadcast programming, designing and implementing campaigns through television, radio, Internet and mobile telephony – all in coordination with and support to the SCER.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:
The Elections Media/Communication Advisor will deliver results in the following areas:
- Planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach in support of SETP, SCER and the electoral processes in Yemen;
- Effective running of communication-related activities in support of the SETP project;
- Capacity development in strategic communication to the SCER and national partners in line with the SETP project;
- Reporting and implementing requirements of the SETP project.
Planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and voter outreach in support of the SETP project and the SCER. The Elections Media/Communications Advisor will:
- Plan and elaborate communications needs assessments for the SETP project and SCER;
- Assist in the development of a comprehensive integrated voter outreach and media communication strategy linked to the electoral benchmarks and timeline;
- Support the design of the SETP and SCER communications and outreach strategies based on the SCER electoral timelines and operational plans, including costing and budgeting;
- Provide constructive and timely advice on inclusion of advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of the SETP program.
Effective running of communication related activities in support of the SETP project. The Elections Media/Communication Advisor will:
- Support the management of the SCER Communication and Public Outreach Departments/Units in relevant public information and voter outreach campaigns in the preparation of their work plans and budgets, focusing initially on the creation of an effective communication and media outreach system for the SCER;
- Contribute to the analysis of information needs of specific target groups and assist in the development of tools and strategies to ensure genuine voter inclusion and participation of the stakeholders (government, civil society, political parties and general population, with targeted strategies to Women, Youth and persons with disabilities) in the electoral processes of the transitional period;
- Assist in the development of key voter information and education messages which can be easily understood by various stakeholders;
- Assist in the preparation and facilitation of national and subnational communication, voter outreach and voter information events related to the tasks and benchmarks of the electoral processes of the transitional period, focusing specifically on Voter Registration, Constitutional Referendum and post-Referendum electoral processes;
- Coordinate and assist in the preparation and dissemination of briefing materials in Arabic for the SCER, Political Parties, NGOs, Civil Society, the Media and the general voting population (booklets, brochures) related to the main issues of each electoral event envisioned during the transitional process;
- Support the preparation of media briefings, updates, press releases for the SETP project, particularly the SCER, and web stories on key policy initiatives and updates to deliver to international and national and local Yemeni media outlets as part of a wider voter outreach campaign;
- Assist the SETP project in establishing and maintaining close relationships with national and local Yemeni media outlets, as well as international news services, civil society, donors, and other stakeholders when required to provide timely and accurate information upon request.
Capacity development in strategic communication and voter outreach and participation initiatives. The Elections Media/Communication Advisor will:
- Based on the analysis of the strategic gaps in the SCER Media and Public Information Units, design a capacity development programme to enhance strategic communication and voter information;
- Suggest short-term and long-term external capacity development support in strategic communication and voter information, and develop the TOR for such support;
- Design and deliver focused capacity development as necessary through formal training, coaching and on-the-job training as appropriate;
- Analyse the opportunities for knowledge sharing on strategic communication and voter information and participation campaigns in post-crisis and transitional environments in the framework of South-South cooperation and design relevant mechanisms and events.
Project implementation. The Elections Media/Communications Advisor will:
- Provide technical direction to and build capacity of international and national technical staff of the SETP project and SCER with regard to their work in elections management;
- Support UNDP efforts of resources mobilization, including planning and costing project inputs; briefing donors, and preparing donor progress reports as required by UNDP reporting rules and as requested by specific donors;
- Draft regular activity reports, as well as other documents, in addition to other duties in line with this ToR, as requested by the CTA.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Displays political neutrality.
Professionalism
- Pride in work and achievements;
- Professional competence and adherence to professional ethics;
- Conscientiousness and efficiency in meeting commitments, compliance with deadlines;
- Motivation by professional rather than personal concerns; persistence when faced with difficult circumstances or challenges; calm in stressful situations.
Teamwork
- Good interpersonal skills;
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and to adapt successfully to changing circumstances.
Communication
- Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
- Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
- Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
- Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience;
- Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Client Orientation
- Considers all those to whom services are provided to be ‘clients' and seeks to see things from clients' point of view;
- Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
- Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
- Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed of and anticipate problems;
- Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master's level education or equivalent in a relevant discipline, such as Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field.
Experience:
- Five years professional experience in media relations, public information or communications field;
- Specific experience in media and public/voter information/education in the context of elections is an asset;
- Strong technical knowledge of the field of strategic communication, particularly the requirements and methods of communication in the context of elections in post-conflict and transitional societies.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in both written and spoken English is required; working knowledge of Arabic is preferred.
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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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